Team Tanzania started the morning with a tour of the mattress factory, which has been manufacturing the foam mattresses made for SCAW in Tanzania for 15 years.\u00a0 The manager gave us a tour where we first saw a staggering pile of 5000 mattresses, colourful and bright, ready for distribution.
\nWe watched the foam for the mattresses be cut, carried, and piled high, ready to be covered in fabric, after which they were wrapped in plastic to ensure that the mattresses stay clean and dry through the night.\u00a0 The company is kindly storing the mattresses for free in addition to providing transportation to the distribution sites.\u00a0 The employees proudly showed us their handiwork and we were able to ask questions and take pictures.<\/p>\n
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Following the tour, our team was invited to Mama Wandoa\u2019s home and workshop where the children\u2019s clothes and backpacks are sewn and the bedkits are compiled.\u00a0 Piled high in two rooms are 5000 bedkits, readily waiting for 5000 children who will dream bigger and sleep better thanks to the generous donations through Sleeping Children Around the World.
\nSewing machines were electric and manual, some for buttoning, some for serging. We also took a look through a bedkit to see how each item will help each child. \u00a0 Seeing each bedkit ready to go has us all excited to begin the incredible work we know is about to begin.<\/p>\n
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For the Children<\/p>\n
Team Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n
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Tanzania: July 14, 2016 <\/strong><\/p>\n Part of the challenge with a distribution in a foreign country is trying to adapt to every situation possible. Today is an example, as we had to reschedule the distribution because of a change in the country\u2019s exams for students entering secondary school. Children had to attend class so, we started our journey\u2026. with a field trip! It was a great opportunity for us to learn more about the people, their culture and the country of Tanzania.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We had the opportunity to meet Said, a history teacher, mentor and also a fantastic guide that gave us a lot of information about how African history evolved over the years. We tried many different regional fruits and ate local typical food. We also explored the spice fields filled with many of the well-known spices of Zanzibar. Our guide seemed to know everyone on the island and it was amazing to see his genuine involvement with local citizens in need.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n During the day, we learned so much, and as nothing happens for nothing, we will be more knowledgeable about the children\u2019s reality for our first day of distribution tomorrow.<\/p>\n Team Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tanzania: July 15, 2016 <\/strong><\/p>\n Today we had our first bedkit distribution in Temboni at a small school about fifteen minutes off the main road. When we arrived, the children and their parents were thrilled to meet us.\u00a0 We quickly set up and with Mama Wandoa\u2019s help had the distribution on its way. A highlight of the distribution (and a real moment of enjoyment for someone who had never been on a trip before) was seeing how happy the children were when we handed them the bedkits and mattresses. When we showed the parents what was in the bedkits they were overjoyed and cheered loudly. It\u2019s so great to think about that over seven hundred children will be sleeping better tonight.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Team Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Tanzania: July 16th, 2016 <\/strong><\/p>\n Day two and we were anxious to fine tune what we discovered on day one!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We left close to 6:30 am\u00a0and arrived an hour later at the school in Buyuni.\u00a0\u00a0Trees shaded the grounds of the school\u00a0\u00a0and hundreds of children and their families were there excitedly awaiting our arrival.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We were introduced to the families by Benjamin\u00a0and entertained with a music circle by the children.\u00a0\u00a0We were told the theme of the children’s entertainment was based on road safety and it looked like a fun and creative way to deliver an important message. \u00a0Watching children fill buckets and water the grass, the teacher told us that the signs on the trees remind the students that sharing the planet and keeping our planet green is their goal.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Head Teacher told us that 2,260 students\u00a0\u00a0attend his school, aged from 5 to 11 years . There are 45 teacher<\/p>\n Yesterday I asked students from a similar size school if they “liked their teachers” and was overwhelmed by the positive response in English of “we LOVE both our teachers!”\u00a0\u00a0Education is an important goal of most of the people of Tanzania.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today, we gave out 710 Bed kits without any glitches, and thanks to the volunteers, we learned enough Swahili to say to them “This is a gift to you from a friend in Canada” as they lifted the backpacks onto their backs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Team Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tanzania: July 17, 2016 <\/strong><\/p>\n Sunday is often described as \u201ca day of rest\u201d but not for this year\u2019s SCAW team in Tanzania.\u00a0 Despite having no bedkit distributions today, we were out the door at 6:40 a.m., heading to church with Mama Wandoa, Benjamin and Wendy.\u00a0 The choir\u2019s music was beautiful and lively, and at the end of the service we were invited to visit the children\u2019s Sunday School where our team taught \u201cIf You\u2019re Happy and You Know It\u201d to the children\u2014great fun was had by all!<\/p>\n In the afternoon, we toured through the Village Museum and learned so much about traditional customs, housing and heritage of seven different tribes of Tanzania.\u00a0 Several of our team members and our driver joined the dancers and learned some new moves to try at home.<\/p>\n At the end of the afternoon, we went to two community markets to see local artisans at work and to practice our bargaining skills in order to purchase a few souvenirs.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Today\u2019s experiences will help us better understand the families and children we are meeting, as we continued to learn about the unique and wonderful Tanzanian culture.\u00a0\u00a0 We are fully refreshed and ready for distribution number three tomorrow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Team Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tanzania: July 18, 2016 <\/strong><\/p>\n Our team was privileged to visit the home of a bedkit recipient after our distribution on Monday.\u00a0We drove a long way on some very rough roads to get to there, which means that the children would have to walk a long way each day to school.\u00a0 The home had two rooms, one for family living and the other for sleeping. Mama and the two children of the family were very excited to receive the bedkit. She explained that she would cook outdoors on an open fire and she had bought some chickens, hoping to get some eggs in the future.\u00a0 We left our visit feeling very blessed with what we have in Canada.<\/p>\n Team Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n Tanzania: July 19th, 2016 <\/strong><\/p>\n Distribution number four in Tanzania was in Kawawa today, and another 715 children and their families will have a more comfortable place to sleep tonight.\u00a0 As our Swahili improves, our interactions with the children are getting fuller.\u00a0 The children are excited to talk with us, to listen to our singing and laughing, and to find out about our homes.<\/p>\n The need in Tanzania becomes more evident to us every day too.\u00a0 Showing the bedkits to families always invokes loud cheers from them.\u00a0 Seeing the family reunions after each child leaves with their new bedkit, we see the smiles from a distance.\u00a0 We also see the prevalent need for support when the distribution is underway, as children and families wait nearby, hoping that extras will be available for them too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is a particular joy for us to see the names of personal friends and family who have donated a bedkit, and to meet the child(ren) receiving a bedkit from someone we know at home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We have been told many times that this is winter in Tanzania, and that the children and families are finding the cold temperatures (22 C at the lowest) difficult.\u00a0 As for our team, we are managing well in the Tanzanian sun, dust, and humidity.\u00a0 Each day is a lot of work, and a lot of joy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Team Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n Tanzania: July 21, 2016 – Preferences <\/strong><\/p>\n As we just ended the second to last distribution today, the sunniest and warmest day so far, we have been noticing that kids are choosing their mattresses so differently- it’s fun watching them!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There is the \u201cquick one\u201d- They would pick any- actually- the closest<\/p>\n Then, the \u201canalyzer\u201d- They already know what they want because they saw how the distribution works, and they made up their mind while waiting in line for their pictures to be taken<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The \u201cshy one\u201d- who would choose the one you have your hand on.<\/p>\n The \u201cdigger\u201d- the one they want is actually in the middle of the pile, the one you cannot reach easily<\/p>\n The \u201ctwins\u201d- who wait for their best friend and so that they can choose together<\/p>\n The \u201cweather vane\u201d- who chooses one, and then suddenly changes their mind to pick a different one.<\/p>\n One thing is for sure- each child will surely have a good night\u2019s sleep on their brand new mattress, regardless of what kind of chooser they are.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Gen for Team Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tanzania: July 22, 2016 – 5000 Bedkits! <\/strong><\/p>\n This afternoon, in Mchickichini, the 5000th Bedkit was given to a delightful child, beaming with joy, as she held each item, packing them in her “mifuko” (bag), giving thumbs up and smiling from ear to ear.\u00a0 She waited patiently, blowing bubbles and playing with the SCAW team. Many of the volunteers are also employed from January to July, preparing the bedkits- cutting fabric, sewing clothes, and packing the 5000 bedkits. Other volunteers gave up possible work days, proud to be able to help children who need it.\u00a0 I asked one volunteer if he was sad because it was our last day of distribution, and he told me no- that he was happy because he knows the children are happy, and he cares about them. Each volunteer has a story, each has given of themselves to ensure 5000 Tanzanian children can sleep better and dream bigger thanks to the generous gift of a Bedkit.<\/p>\n The gift of a Bedkit is a gift that keeps on giving.\u00a0 In some ways, this thank-you gift to our overseas volunteer team had 4 recipients, and we could see the impact for all four immediately- the volunteers, the child, her family, and the SCAW volunteers.<\/p>\n The volunteers were beaming with pride, smiling for the camera (“Cheka!” – Swahili for smile), and so grateful for their thank you gift to be a gift for a child.\u00a0 The child was delighted, happily posing for the camera, arms around SCAW volunteers, and giving the thumbs up.<\/p>\n Walking away with her new “godoro” (mattress) balanced on her head and her “mifuko” (bag) on her back, we saw her mama greet her happily.\u00a0 We know that the Bedkit will help her family- and we can only imagine the ripple effect of this gift.\u00a0 We as SCAW volunteers were gifted with the opportunity to see- for the 5000th time in 7 days- the incredible joy of receiving a Bedkit.\u00a0 The young girl shook our hands, looked us in the eyes and warmly told us, “thank you”. Asante Sana.
\nThe 5000th Bedkit was purchased by our team as a thank you gift to the overseas volunteers here in Tanzania.\u00a0 The jobs of the volunteers included: helping children get dressed into their brand new clothes; carrying, folding and tying 715 mattresses each morning; cutting off the bracelets used to identity Bedkit recipients; helping the children find their backpacks and baggies (Swahili for bag!) with their school uniforms; sizing the children to receive their Bedkit (large or small); and helping our team to learn Swahili (some of us can count all the way to 20, and a few of us know 5-6 colours).<\/p>\n
\nLa voir quitter avec son nouveau \u00ab\u00a0godoro\u00a0\u00bb (matelas) sur sa t\u00eate et son \u00ab\u00a0mifuko\u00a0\u00bb (sac) sur son dos, on a pu apercevoir sa maman l\u2019accueillir tr\u00e8s heureuse. Nous savons que l\u2019ensemlbe aidera sa famille et, on ne peut qu\u2019imaginer tous les effets positifs de ce cadeau inestimable pour eux. En tant que b\u00e9n\u00e9vole de SCAW, nous sommes choy\u00e9s d\u2019avoir l\u2019opportunit\u00e9 de voir, pour une 5000e<\/sup> fois en 7 jours, la joie indescriptible des enfants qui recoivent un ensemble. La jeune fille nous a serr\u00e9 la main, nous a regard\u00e9 dans les yeux et nous a chaleureusement remerci\u00e9.
\nThe gifts we have given this week, thanks to generous donors, have been gifts for us, too.\u00a0 \u00a0We have been gifted with love and laughter, with hope and humility, and been gifted with new friendships to cherish for years to come.\u00a0 5000 bedkits delivered to 5000 children adds up to so much more.<\/p>\n
\nThank you.
\nTeam Tanzania 2016<\/p>\n![\"OLYMPUS](\"https:\/\/www.les-suites.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2016\/10\/P7150097.jpg\")
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